The electricity was palpable in the Tampa Bay Times Forum as Ann Romney addressed the nation Tuesday night. Fans screamed and held up “We love you Ann” signs. They screamed louder when husband Mitt — now the official Republican presidential nominee — made a “surprise” appearance.

But of course they would — it was preaching to the choir. The real temperature is still being taken as party officials try to gauge whether Ms. Romney’s speech convinced people of the nuanced and personal side of Mitt — a speech that marked a critical point in a convention designed to boost Mr. Romney’s likeability ratings.

By many accounts, Ms. Romney did her job, and did it well. Perhaps a little too well, according to The New York Times, which said she “is so gifted at politics, she may actually make her husband look a little bad.” Maybe Mr. Romney’s cameo was to help viewers remember this campaign is about him, not her?

On a panel after the speech, Fox News contributor Juan Williams drew gasps after he said she came off like a “corporate wife.”

“And you know the stories she told about struggle, eh, it’s hard for me to believe. She’s a very rich woman and I know that and America knows that.”

Jodi Kantor, New York Times reporter and author of The Obamas, a recent book on the first couple, saw parallels between Ms. Romney and Ms. Obama’s speech: Both women emphasized how hard their husbands worked to get to where they are today.

She may have dropped the word “love” no less than 14 times, but not everyone was ga-ga over her performance, thinking she just didn’t live up to the hype. Sure, it was great, the writers at Slate said. “But will we remember it in a day or two?”

Jezebel was mildly impressed by her “Oprah impression” though thought she came up short on revealing more about the man gunning for power.